Saint John of Kazan was born in Nizhny Novgorod. In the early 16th century, during the raids of the Kazan Tatars, he was taken captive and sold into slavery to a relative of the Khan, Alej-Shpur. John served his master with humility, strictly observing Christian commandments and fasting days. He spent his nights in prayer, enduring mockery and reproaches.
When Alej-Shpur and the mullah sought to convert him to Mohammedanism, John refused, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the true God. He was tortured, but he did not renounce Christ. Seeing his steadfastness, Alej-Shpur ordered his head to be cut off. John was taken outside the city, where he was beheaded, but the blow was not fatal, and he lost consciousness.
Saint John lay unconscious until late at night, but the Lord preserved him, and he was able to return to the city, where he recounted his sufferings. The wounds were mortal, and he asked to be administered the Holy Mysteries of Christ. In the morning, at sunrise, he departed to the Lord († 1529). His body was buried in the old Russian cemetery near Kazan.
